Comcast Ignores 'World's Worst Company' Award, Misleads About Bogus 'World's Most Admired Company' Award

from the yeah,-good-luck-with-that dept

Thu, Apr 10th 2014 12:58pm — Mike Masnick

So, we already wrote about Comcast's attempted charm offensive (built on blatant falsehoods) as part of its effort to get its merger with Time Warner Cable approved. We also wrote about Comcast cruising to an easy victory in Consumerist's famed 'Worst Company' awards (beating out the comic book and sci-fi level evil in Monsanto).

So, in reading through Comcast's filing with the FCC about why its merger is in the "public interest," I found it curious that Comcast decided to ignore the Consumerist award, and instead focus on an award suggesting something entirely different:

By investing heavily in talent, research and development, and in the infrastructure needed to facilitate creativity and invention, Comcast has created a culture of innovation. Comcast now employs over 1,000 engineers and developers, and vigorously competes for new engineering talent with the likes of Google, Apple, Facebook, Netflix, Microsoft, and Twitter. Its single-minded focus on enhancing its services and pursuing innovation have earned it first place among cable and satellite providers on Fortune Magazine’s list of World’s Most Admired Companies – up from third place.

I live in Silicon Valley and talk to engineers all the time. I hear about various job offers and dream jobs, and people talking about working for Google, Apple, Facebook, Netflix, Microsoft, Twitter (and a few other companies as well). I've never, ever, heard anyone even once thinking about working for Comcast.

Of course, it is true that Fortune put Comcast on its list, but note the small caveat that this is solely in the "cable and satellite providers" category which (no joke) consists of a total of four whole companies -- and one of them (ranked the lowest, by the way) is Time Warner Cable. Even more important? The bit that Comcast conveniently leaves out of this message is the line right above its rank in that narrow category. And that's its overall rank:

Top 50 rank: N.A.
Rank in Telecommunications: Cable and Satellite Providers: 1

In other words, Comcast is not in the top 50 "most admired" companies. It only scores in this narrow category with only a very small number of companies, where almost every other company is hated. Now, if we look at the companies that are actually at the very top of the real "Most Admired" list, we'll see: Apple, Amazon and Google in the top three spots. Microsoft (24) and Facebook (38) come in a bit lower. Hell, even AT&T (not a cable or satellite provider) sneaks its way into the top 50 most admired companies at number 50.

So, once again, Comcast's attempts to mislead just call out more scrutiny on the fact that the company seems allergic to honesty. Even in trying to highlight how "admired" the company is, it's actually calling attention to the simple fact that it's not admired at all.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: misleading, most admired, world's worst
Companies: comcast, time warner cable

29 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Baron von Robber, 10 Apr 2014 @ 1:08pm

The only group that would...
... admire Comcast would be The Robber Barons.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
limbodog (profile), 10 Apr 2014 @ 1:09pm

That... That's actually rather brilliant. I may have to do something like that for my next annual review.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
S. T. Stone, 10 Apr 2014 @ 1:09pm

You know, after all the attention paid to the company in these past few weeks, you�d think Comcast would bill itself as �the most talked-about telecommunications company in the United States� and spin that in some fashion.

Someone should call their marketing department - then again, maybe they use AT&T�
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2014 @ 1:28pm

Literally the only good thing about Comcast is the food court in the basement of their headquarters.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2014 @ 1:33pm
  
  Re:
  Even that's not all that good...
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Baron von Robber, 10 Apr 2014 @ 1:42pm
  
  Re:
  I take it their food service is slow, over priced and they don't allow vending machines there.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Blue Sweater (profile), 11 Apr 2014 @ 7:20am
    
    Re: Re:
    If you go in for a coffee you have to also buy a lemon, some brussel sprouts and a box of those cinnamon hearts.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Mason Wheeler (profile), 10 Apr 2014 @ 1:34pm

How in the world does Apple end up on the top of that list? They're about the sleaziest company in the tech world...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2014 @ 2:04pm
  
  Re:
  They are very good at selling the illusion that they are about freedom and creativity.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - DannyB (profile), 10 Apr 2014 @ 3:13pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Apple is very good at selling the illusion that it is innovative. Apple may be (or Steve may have been) good at defining the next great concept and how it should be. Simple. Elegant. But then they aren't the long term innovator on the concept they defined.
    
    As for freedom and creativity? I would say freedom to find creative ways to slip things by the USPTO. Bouncy scrolling? Slide to unlock? Quick links?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Internet Zen Master (profile), 10 Apr 2014 @ 5:26pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Since when the hell did people need to get creative about slipping stuff by those morons? Besides the FISA Court, it seems like the biggest rubber stamp in the US gov is the USPTO.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2014 @ 8:42am
  
  Re:
  There tech support is also good. The times I have called them, especially for warranty issues, has been quick and easy. I have only received better support from Dell but that was paying for business class support for a few servers. Dell regular support is not that good. My worst tech support experience has been from Comcast.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2014 @ 1:36pm

I admire Comcast!
I admire Comcast, I really do!

I admire them for their ability to smear their own reputation.

I could never smear my own reputation even half as well as Comcast does to itself!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2014 @ 1:40pm

Well. They didn't say they were in the top 50, they said they're in first place among cable and satellite providers on Fortune Magazine�s list of World�s Most Admired Companies, which is true. I don't get your issue here, this is the type of PR cherry picking that *all* companies do including, I'm sure, techdirt.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2014 @ 1:43pm

Lol. Can Comcast be anymore pathetic?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- DannyB (profile), 10 Apr 2014 @ 3:15pm
  
  Re:
  I hope this is not intended as a Challenge for Comcast to try to disprove your implication.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- B.G., 10 Apr 2014 @ 4:34pm
  
  Re:
  Comcast is no more pathetic than half of the giant corporations in the country...
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2014 @ 1:48pm

NSAT&T
People like AT&T? Weren't they in on the ground floor of the whole "snoop on everyone" thing, with ECHELON or whatever?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2014 @ 1:48pm

Well if you can't produce actual numbers representing real achievements then baffle 'em with bull shit.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Zonker, 10 Apr 2014 @ 2:23pm

But look at how Comcast has improved: they went from second worst cable/satellite provider (third out of four) to first place! And if they get Time Warner (TW) then TW will rise from last to first place (out of three). Clearly this is innovation and competition at its finest!

*not responsible for damage to sarcasm detectors caused by this comment*
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
CyberKender, 10 Apr 2014 @ 4:53pm

Excuse me, Comcast, you misspelled 'Reviled.'
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
macbenz (profile), 10 Apr 2014 @ 5:03pm

as a tech recruiter...
... i can tell you right now, you're not sought after if comcast is the latest line on your resume.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Mark1 (profile), 10 Apr 2014 @ 7:58pm

Ethical duty of candor
I assume they are explaining this to a judge. Their lawyers have an ethical duty of candor to the court. What they said is "highly" misleading.
Has anyone challenged over this point.
I also assume they are telling this to a federal judge. Fedral judges have lifetime appointments. You don't fool around with them.
Report their attorney to the state bar. I'm sure they would want to know about this.
Sometimes they won't take action without a complaint. Give them on so they can do their job.
I absolutely loathe Comcast.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
127.0.0.1 (profile), 10 Apr 2014 @ 8:48pm

But, but, but ...
This was the least untruthful answer they could give.

There is no Congressional Oversight.

James Clapper already has a future with Comcast, since he has already proven extremely competent in 'creativity and innovation' - in the use of the english language.

Who can say 'Spin Doctors'?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2014 @ 6:23am

Comcast... slightly less hated than 3 other companies.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Silver Fang (profile), 11 Apr 2014 @ 6:27am

No more mergers
All these mergers do is create an oligopoly with crappy service and high prices. Why doesn't the government do its job and break them up, as it did with Ma Bell decades ago?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
John85851 (profile), 11 Apr 2014 @ 6:01pm

Call them on this
As usual, why isn't the rest of the media (or the public) calling them out on statements like this? Do they explain this in their court filings with footnotes or are they actually trying to mislead the court?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2014 @ 7:20pm

But they are the most admired of the most loathed.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Jonathan Rich, 12 May 2014 @ 7:08pm

Comcast Is The Worst!
Me, I had to dump Comcast after being their customer for at least a decade. You see... I hand moved, down the stret and around the corner, same ZIP code, and I asked them to transfer my service to my new home. After NINE weeks and SEVEN failures to meet appointments to install my service, I got fed up and closed my account with them. I went with HughsNet.com for internet and Direct Tv for television, and both together costs only HALF of what ComCast cost me. Their customer service is the very worst, and they treat current customers like trash. I fired them and am glad for it. To hell with ComCast!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]